“My Red Tricycle” is a part of the Capitol Avenue Bronze public art collection . . donated to the City of Cheyenne by private individuals, organizations or companies. For more information about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit Deselms Fine Art at https://deselmsfineart.com

When Rich Haines was 15 years old and entering ninth grade in his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, he ran head-on into disappointment. He went to sign up for the one elective he was looking forward to — and gym class was full. A friend of his sister's had a suggestion for a substitute. "If you want an easy A," she said, "take sculpture." Rich signed up for sculpture and he's been sculpting ever since.

Specializing in wildlife and Western themes, Rich’s bronzes can be found in both private and public collections across the West. Perhaps his most well-known sculpture is the 10-foot-by-12-foot ram in front of Moby Arena on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Rare is the CSU student who doesn't stand in front of the ram in cap and gown on graduation day to have his or her picture taken. For CSU to let a UW grad sculpt its Ram is something highly significant.

Several of Rich Haines’ sculptures are on display in Cheyenne, including two in the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project: My Red Tricycle and Norma’s Calf, on the northeast corner Capitol Avenue and 17th Street. One look at “My Red Tricycle” elicits an immediate memory or experience. The adorable young boy on the bicycle looks confident and carefree as he observes the traffic on 19th Street buzzing before him.

For Don Jones, the fifth generation mason who installed all of the sculptures in the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project as of this writing, it reminds him of his young son on his bicycle for the first time, looking daring and full of energy, right before he pedaled off with warp speed for his first independent adventure and resulting in an overturned trike. For others, it is a nostalgic visit down memory lane remembering the joy and independence of taking a ride on your trike or watching a child or grandchild take those first independent pedals away from mom and dad’s watchful eyes. It’s also a throwback to another time when a child could be out on a trike in the neighborhood without fear.

This sculpture is one that puts a smile on your face every time you pass as you remember a quieter, carefree time.

To learn more about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit this link . For more information about each artist, sponsoring a bronze, or becoming a donor/supporter at any level, please contact Harvey Deselms at Deselms Fine Art, located at 303 E. 17th Street Cheyenne. Email is [email protected] or call at 307 432 0606